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Monday, June 15, 2009

P.F. Chang's China Bistro was one of the first "chain" restaurants in the United States to introduce a gluten-free menu. We're fortunate to have an outpost nearby in Marlton, New Jersey, where we went Sunday night for dinner. (Other Delaware Valley locations include Glen Mills, Plymouth Meeting and Warrington, Pennsylvania and Princeton and Atlantic City, New Jersey.)

We started with the gluten-free lettuce wraps appetizer, half a head of iceberg lettuce served with seasoned ground chicken and vegetable filling. Our older son ordered the savory Philip's Better Lemon Chicken as his dinner entree - cubes of chicken are coated with cornstarch and sauteed, served with broccoli in a sweet lemon sauce. His order included a side of rice. The restaurant serves numerous gluten-free chicken and seafood entrees and one noodle dish, Singapore Street Noodles.

For dessert, we all shared a flourless chocolate dome cake, served with berries and drizzled with raspberry sauce. If only they had gluten-free fortune cookies!

The entire menu is available for take-out as well. I also noticed that the Marlton location serves Redbridge beer, which is listed on the cocktail menu. The other area outposts may carry it as well, but you can call ahead to check whether they do or don't.

P.F. Chang's recently started distributing a loyalty card called the "Warrior Card." The offers vary; in June, for example, presenting the card to the server entitles diners to 10 percent off the bill. Diners can sign up for the card on the restaurant's website or by completing a form at the restaurant.